Blackpool's Jason Euell hits out over racism row: I'm proud I made a stand

24 Sep 2009 01:08:34

Jason Euell has spoke out over the latest race row to hit football, insisting he did the right thing by confronting the Stoke fan who allegedly abused him.
Euell reacted furiously to the comments directed at him as he sat on the Blackpool bench in Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at the Britannia Stadium and had to be restrained by manager Ian Holloway.
It was the second racism controversy in three days following El-Hadji Diouf's altercation with a ball-boy at Everton on Sunday, and the former Wimbledon and Charlton striker believes the problem will only be stamped out if all supporters are prepared to make a stand.
'It did hurt,' said Euell. 'But I felt I had to stand up for all colours and creeds and show that we won't accept it.
'I'm proud that I made a stand. It was a shock to hear what came out of the guy's mouth.
Racism in football is not dead and buried, but it's still a shock to hear that kind of stuff at close proximity.
'There were people near this idiot who didn't agree with it, but there were others who turned a blind eye which is disappointing.
'We need everyone in it together. That's what it takes. The more people who stand up, the more voices, the better chance we have of stamping it out.
'It's something that's disgusting and negative but we can still turn it into a positive.'
The fan was ejected from the ground and Staffordshire Police confirmed yesterday that a 47-year-old man was in custody.
Euell added: 'The guy started slurring words at the bench and I looked at him. Then he thought he'd go one step further and make it racial.
'It was the second time I've suffered racial abuse personally. The other was many years ago at Bolton's old stadium but I was younger, 18 at the time, and I had the senior players at Wimbeldon around me to help out.
'One idiot doesn't disgrace a whole club but you don't want to be tarnished because of it.
'Another fan came up and apologised but I told him he didn't have to say sorry for one idiot.'